Context Sensitive Design Guidance and Case Study

Contact:  Geri Knoebel

Context sensitive design means a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach involving stakeholders for the development of a transportation facility that fits its physical setting and preserves scenic, aesthetic, historic, spiritual, and environmental resources, while maintaining safety and mobility.  New Mexico’s transportation system connects communities and citizens, alters the shape of communities, affects ecosystems, and impacts quality of life.  In 2003 the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) committed to the principle of thoughtful stewardship of the environment and to the principle of a multimodal transportation system.  The use of context sensitive design for transportation projects can help to resolve conflicts and deliver transportation projects while enhancing transportation performance, existing in harmony with communities and their surroundings, and adding lasting value to the communities they serve.

 The ATR Institute, in cooperation with the Research Bureau–NMDOT, is working to develop policies, procedures, and guidelines and conducting research to expand the use of context sensitive design for transportation projects.  The ATR Institute will assist the NMDOT in picking a Pilot Case Study to implement the guidelines of Context Sensitive Design, research the process, and develop a lessons learned study.

The objective of this study will be to incorporate context sensitive design into current and future transportation projects commencing with the planning process.  Particular emphasis will be given to context sensitive solutions for national and state scenic byways, historic districts, and state highways in core city neighborhoods, town and village business districts, and main streets.

The case study will be the foundation for development of communication strategies designed to address, inform, and respond to suggestions from transportation interest groups, advocacy organizations, and other interested parties throughout the planning and design process.

In the development of policies, participation will be sought from tribal and local governments, representatives of environmental groups including environmental justice advocates, rural communities and local urban neighborhoods, road builders, the business community, transit agencies, transportation interest groups, and other interested parties.  This collaboration shall include a dialogue to ensure that concerns about safety, community livability, mobility, liability, the environment, and other issues are addressed in the policies.